Bread and sandwich toaster



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,610

J. J. NOETH ET AL BREAD AND SANDWICH TOASTER Filed July 7. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. J. NOETH ET AL BREAD AND SANDWICH TOASTBR Feb. 21, 1928.

Filed July 7. 1926' a Sheets-Sheet 2 awve/vl 5065.

Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,610

J. J. NQETH ET AL BREAD AND SANDWICH TOA S'I'ER Filed July 7. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jim J/Voeik x $651425 ,HzzmmeZ 49 I SIM/0M4 was.

Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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Application filed #Tuly 7, 1886. Serial No. 120,959.

This invention relates to bread and sandwich toasters of the type commonly used in restaurants, lunch rooms and the like, and more particularly to that class of toasters which are electrically heated and automatically timed, our object being to produce a toaster of this kind which offers easy access to the operator for inserting or removing the contents.

A further object of our invention is to construct the novel toaster in such a manner that the heating elements thereof will be in a position remote from the path taken by the operators hand when inserting or removing the contents, whereby to prevent the incurrence of discomfort or burns.

A still further object of the invention is to embody therein an element to receive or ro'- ject the contents upon an external plat orm which is cooland'handy. to the operator.

Another object of the invention is to embody therein a heating element which closely conforms to the contents whether these are of regular or uneven formation, whereby to toast them uniformly.

A final but nevertheless important object of our invention is to construct the same on sturdy lines and of few and simple parts;

whereby it may operate efiiciently for long periods and sell at a reasonable figure.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to-the accompanying drawings, in which 9 i Figure 1 is an elevation of the novel toaster, partly broken away, as set for operation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the toaster being at the end of its operation;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly broken away;

.Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective View of a timing mechanism; v

"Fig. 5 is an interior view of said timing mechanism, primarily taken on the section line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of a timing control; I

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of a selfleveling heating element; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus for receiving and dispensing the toaster contents.

,pacity of two charges'at a time. Jake the Referring specifically to the drawings, 15 u denotes. the base of the appliance, which is in the form of a cabinet, and adapted to be su ported on a table, counter or other suitab e fixture by. corner feet 16.

. On the base 15 is erected a platform 17 of hollow sheet metalconstruction, whose interior contains an electrical heatin unit (not shown) supplied by. a current lea 18 at the 7 rear. The platform therefore serves as a heat-plate on which the bread slices or sandwiches to be toasted may be laid for bottomheat application. For top-heat application, a flat lid-plate 19 is arranged over the platform 17, such plate containing one or more rectangular box-like heat-plates 20 in lateral succession, corresponding to the number of bread slices or sandwiches intended to be accommodated by the platform. The present showing represents a machine havin a calower heat-plate the upper ones -20contain the necessary heating elementsindicated at 21 in Fig. 7and receive current from leads 18.

The lid-plate 19 is supported by end-posts 22, on which rest lateral extension-lugs 19 of the plate, the posts being rearwardly extended at their upper ends with arms 22 to a point near the rear edge of the lid plate,where the arms 22* are formed into eyes 22 to re-' ceive trunnions 22 from the ends of the lid plate, whereby to hingedlysupport the same at the rear. The upper heat unit is therefore susceptible of being swung up, like the lid of a trunk, for access when a charge is to be depositedor removed from between the heatplates.

The upper heat unit is also intended to be raised as a whole, as denoted by its position in Fig. 2, toprovide a greater amount 'of room between the upper and lower heat units while a charge is being deposited or removed by the rise of the end-posts 22 throughbase bearings 15, as induced by a weight 23 bearing on the rear ends of a pair of rocker arms 24 fulcrumed in standards 25 and having their forward ends linked by pin-and-slot connections 26 to the lower ends of the end ,posts 22. The weight 23 is'vertically slidable in a shaft 27 communicating with the base 15 at the rear; and the rocker arms 24 operate inside the base, the standards 25 being erected on the bottom of the latter.

The shaft '27 communicates with a side chamber 28 in which a chain 29 is adapted to travel. One end of the chain i'sattached to a bottom-lug 23 of the weight, the medial portion of the chain passing over the idler sprockets 30, and the other end of the chain receives a finger lug 31'thr0ugh a vertical slot 32 in the frontal wall of the chamber 28. The weight 23 may be raised by depressing the finger lug 31, the high position ofthe weight being indicated in Figure 1; and when the finger lug is released, the tendency of the weight will be to fall and accomplish the rise of the upper heat unit as previously described.

It will benoted that the chain chamber 28 is of such width as to locate the actuating I further ascent of the assembly is conse v must descend before it falls.

element-finger lug 31at the. extreme .end of the machine, in .which position the hand or finger of the operator will amply clear of the path of the upper heat unit and therefore avoid discomfort or injury from pos;

sible contact therewith. i

The swinging or opening motion of the upper heating unit is induced automatically by the rise thereof, the method beingv'ery simple. As noted particularly in Figure 3,

the lid-plate 19 has a rearwardly projecting stem 19 alongside the shaft 27. The latter carries a timing mechanism (to be referred to later) in a casing 27 at a point above the stem 19. When the upper heating unit is raised by the'end posts 22, it rest-swith the extension lugs 19 upon the latter; however, when in the course of the ascent the projecting stem 19 -meets the timer casing 27 the latter serves as a stop or deterrent, and the quently accompanied bythe swinging or opening action anticipated. To smoothen the impact of the stem l9 withthe bottom of'the easing 27 the corner of the latter is rounded as shown; and, .of course, the remaining corners may. also be rounded -to harmonize. Also, to reduce friction, the point of impact may be fittedwith one or leased-causes ratchet teeth on the'rackbar 34 and the lng' 33 movable in the slot 32 by means of a finger pin 31 projecting from the lug; the latter also has a cross bar 31 on the'outside of the slot cooperating with a scale of grad- -uations 31 representing minutes on the face of the chain chamber wall. The stop lug 33 is intended to be set at any desired point in the scale and may be held there by the holding means of Fig. 6 (shown separated) or by any other suitable means. In theillustration, 31 represents a screw extension of the lug through the slot, 31 a loose washer,

31 an expanding spring, and 31 a nut. The assembly of theseparts with the wall between the cross bar 31 and the washer 31 will exert sntficient force to hold the stop lug where set.

In raising the weight to the predetermined fset position above outlined, a ratchettooth rack bar 3t'lodged in a cavity 23 in the weight slips along a ratchet-tooth pinion 35, which has access to the rack by way of a slot 27 of the shaft 27. The pinion 35 is carried by a spindle 36 journaled in a block 37, which is'pivoted in bearings 27 carried by the timer casing 27*. The block 37 has a projecting arm 38 which is urged by an expanding spring 39 to cause the pinion 35 to bear against the rack bar 34. The working end of the spring 39 is attached to the arm 38, while the stationary end is attached to a lug 27 d of the casing 27*.

l-Vhile the weight 23 imparts no motion to the pinion 35 on the up-stroke, its return or descent-as the finger lug 31 is rethe engagement of the pinion 35, whereby the latter is rotated. The motion of the pinion is transmitted to the timer gearingin the case 27, whose more rollers, if desired. The impact will not \speed' is controlled by a final govenor elev be sudden or sharp, sinceit is our intention to so counterbalance the weight in the design of the upper heating unit that the latter will be raised slowly.

Since it is customary to time the toasting operation consistent with various degrees to which the charge is to be toasted we haveadapted the automatic timing mechanism shown in our Patent No. 1,547,920,'(Hummel and Noeth) of November 10, 1925, to the present appliance without material change. As before, the function of this mechanism is to permit-the weight 23 to be raised to various'degrees of a resistance through which it The length of time consumed by the descent is predetermined by the raising movement and represents the duration of the toasting operation,

wichare to be evenly toasted, both heat plates applicable thereto should fully cover the faces of the charge. In the present independently free within the '-lid-plate 19 to conform to the inclination of the charge embodiment, the upper heat plates 20 are as the upper heat unit closes thereon. As indicated in Fig. 7, each of the rectangular box-like heat plates is loosely hung at a heating units constantly hot, the insertion the corners uponthe heads 41 of inverted screws or pins 42 carried by the bushings 42 at the under surface of the lid-plate 19. Screw -heads 41 are accessible through holes 42 in the bottom of the box-like heat plates 20. lVhen, upon the descent of the upper heating unit, a given heat plate 20 settles on an uneven charge, the heat plate is free to assume the form of the charge as the unit closes.

In restaurant use, especially during meal hours, the toaster will be heated continuous 1y, so that time will not be lost while the heat plates are themselves receiving heat each time the "current is turned on. With the and removal of the food charges may, when the operator, is rushed or unhandy, expose his hands to the danger of a burn. To eliminate this danger, we have provided an automatic charge slider to position the charge more remotely from the heat plates and handier to the operator.

.Referring more particularly to Figures 3 and 8, the slider referred to is denoted by 43 and comprises a low metal frame positioned on the heat plate 17 and divided laterally by one or more-partitions 44, according to the number of charges which are receivable on the heat plate. The divisions of the slider are substantially rectangular in conformity with the usual outline of the charge, and are cut away at a medial frontal point. The slider is intended to move forwardly on theheat plate when the toaster opens, so that the charge in the slider will be carried onto an extension 45 of the heat plate for handy removal by the operator; and, when -a new charge has been deposited on the extension within the slider, the closing of the toaster is intended to draw the slider and its charge rearwardly. To facilitate the removal and insertion of the charge, the extension 45 may be surfaced with or entirely-built of a material having a low coefficient of heat, so as to be harmless when touched by the hand; also, the extension may be cut out, as indicated at -i6,-at the front to permit the thumb, and -forefingers to be handily applied when to lift a dispensed charge over the slider.

The operation of the slider may be induced by any suitable motive connection with the upper heating unit of the toaster, but. it is our present preference to use the end posts 22 as the prime mover. Each of these, where it travels in its bearing 15, is cut with a gear rack 4'2"; and the bearing is extended at 18 to house-a pinion 49 in mesh with the said gear rack; The pinion has its spindle extended'to carry an outer gear 50 which meshes at the bottom with a gear rack 51 formed in a drop flange 52 depending from each end piece of the slider 43. It i weight during its upward travel within its shaft, rollers 53 may be fitted to the upper and lower ends of the weight as shown in Fi s. 1 and 4.

The appliance may also be made in a" model for occasional or home use, in which case an electric switch-automatically operated by the opening and closing actions'of the toaster, by a suitable connection-could be provided to turn on the current when the toaster is put into use, and turn it off when the toasting operation-has been completed, saving current, and the special attention of the o aerator in that connection. In

such a mode the timing would obviously.

require extension to allow for the initial heating of the a pliance.

An appliance is thus had which is simple and ea able of giving rapid service. ts princip e is ada table to various kindred uses, such as for t 1e baking of waflles, frying of an cakes, etc., wherein but ordinary skil in the art is required to design the heating units to suit. The appliance itself is also susceptible to various changes and refinements in the ture which woul not require inventive skill, and we desire such changes and refinements to be considered as comin the scope and spirit of the appende claims.

It may be added that in case a. mistake has been made in charging or setting the toaster, it may be caused to open at once by drawing a terminal knob 38 of the arm 38 in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 5, in which event the pinion 35 will depart from its contact with the weight rack 34, and permit the weight to fall prematurel We c aim 1. A bread-slice toaster comprising a hor-.

izontal heat plate on which the slice is laid, a companion heat plate deposited upon the slice and means-to horizontally lift and subsequently swing the latter heat plate away within from the slice to expose the latter for remoral.

2, A bread-slice toaster comprising a horizontal heat plate on which the slice is laid. a companion heat plate above the slice, manual nit-ans operable to depress the companion heat plate upon the slice, mca'nsto horizonthe slice, and means cooperating with said lastmentioncd means to cause said companion heat plate to swing away from the slice during the course of its ascent.

3. A toaster for bread slices and the like comprising a heating element on which the slice is laid, a frame above t'he'slice and adapted to close upon the same, and a heating element loosely suspended from said frame to seat upon and conform to the upper face of the bread slice independently of the closing movement of the frame.

4. A toaster for bread slices and the like comprising a heatingelement on which the slice is laid, a, frame above the slice and adapted to close upon the same, and a heating element loosely suspended at distantlyspaced points in its expanse from said frame to seat upon and conform to the upper face of the bread slice independently of the closing movement of the frame.

5. A bread-slice toaster comprisin a heating element on which the slice is lai a companion heating element adaptedto close u n the slice to toast the same and open w on :the toasting is completed, and a frame about the slice and slidab e on the first named heating element to move the slice inwardly when to be toasted and outwardly when finished.

6. A bread-slice toaster comprising a heat- I ing element on which the slice is laid, a companion heating element adapted to close upon "ing unit and in a the slice to toastthe same and open when the toasting is completed, a frame about the .lice and slidable on the first named heating element, and a connection between the said companion heating element and the frame whereby the latter will be automatically actuated to move the slice inwardly when and outwardly when it opens. 7 A bread slice toaster comprising a heatmg unlt for supporting a slice, a companion heating unit movably mounted to engage.

the opposite side of said slice, means operable to actuate said last mentioned heating unit bodily away from said first named heat- .ing unit and in a plane parallel thereto, and

means cooperating with said second named for swinging the same to a position out of alinement with said first named heating to thereby expose the slice for removal."

unit

8. A bread slice toaster comprising a heating unit for supporting a slice, a companion heating unit movably mounted to engage the opposite side of said slice, and means operable to actuate said last mentioned heating h unit bodily away from said first named heatplane parallel thereto, and

subsequently to position said second mentioned heating unit out of alinement with said first named heating unit to thereby expose the slice for remova the first pivota heating element closes base, heating unitin its aforementioned .movement b 9. A bread slice toaster comprising a heating unit for supporting a slice, a companion heating unit, a member movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first heating unit and upon which said companion heating unit is pivotally mounted and normally supported in a plane parallel with ieating nnit, -means for actuating said member to simultaneously disengage the entire active surface of said second heating unit from the slice, and subsequently actingineans forswinging the second heating unit out of alinement with the first heating unit to expose the slice for removal.

10. A bread slicetoaster comprising a heating unit for supporting a slice, a companion heating un t, a member movable in a plane at right angles to the plane.

abutments engaging after a predetermined movement of said member to swing said second heating unitto a position out of alinement with said first heating-unit to thereby expose the slice for removal. Y

11. A bread slice toaster comprising a base, a pair of heating units, one of said units being secured to said base, a member movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first mentioned heating unit .and upon'which the second heating unit is ly mounted and normally supported m a plane parallel with the first heating unit, one of said heating units being designed to support a slice, means for actuating said member to move said second mentioned heating unit ,away from the first' men'tioned unit, and subsequently acting means for swinging the second heating unit out of alinement with the first heating unit to expose the slice for removal.

12. A bread slice toaster camprising a I a heating unit supported upon said slice operating means for said supporting member to move said second mentioned heating unit away from the first mentioned heating unit and in alined parallelism therewith. and means operable in the above mentioned movement of said supporting member for eating units being designed to supporta' use, a supporting member mounted for ried heating unitbeing designed to support ing unit and in alined parallelism therewith, d d

swinging said second mentioned heating unit 15. A bread slice toaster comprising a out of alinement with said first mentioned heating unit for supporting a slice, a movheating unit to thereby permit removal of able frame designed to close upon said heatthe slice from the heating unit upon which ing unit, a second heating umt loosely susit is disposed. pended from said frame and designed to seat 13. A bread slice toaster comprislng 21 upon and conform to the upper face of the base, a heating unit sup orted upon said slice independently of the closing movement base, a supporting mem er mounted for of said frame, means operable to actuate said sliding movement transversely of the plane f me bodily away from said first named of said' aforementioned heating unit, a -,sec heating unit and in a plane parallel thereto, 0nd heating unit pivotally supp rted P9 a and means cooperating with said frame in its said supporting member and normally dlsaforementioned movement for actuating the posed in a pl ne pa lel wi h the p e o same to a position out of alinement with said said first mentioned heating unit and in fi t, n d h ating unit to thereby expose opposed relationship thereto, said base-carth li for r moval,

16. A bread slice toaster comprising a a slice, operating means for said supportmg h ti it, for supporting a slice, a mov-. member to move Said Second mentloned heat" able frame designed toclose u on said heating unit away from the first mentioned heating unit a, second heating umt loosely susfrom said frame and designed to seat means operable in the above men upon and conform to the u per face of the movement of 531d PP g b q slice independently of the c osing movement swinging aid Second m nt gl of-said frame, means operable to actuate said out of alinement with said first mentioned f e,- bodily away from said first named heating unit to therebyp rlnl r m a heating unit and in a plane-parallel thereto, the Slice from he he ngjm t P LEY Q means cooperating with said frame in its it is disposed, a frame slidable u Ton sai aforementioned movement for, actuating the base carried hea ing ni a WithlIl which same to a position ou'tof aliznement with said the slice is located, said base having an 3X fi t ed heating unit to thereby expose tenswn 111 a, Plane W Saul -ear the slice for removal, a slide frame upon said heating unit, and gearing associated with fi t ti d h ti it d fi i Said slldable f fi and s lp g l the slice therein, and means operable by the for actuating said supporting frame to slide movement f id bl f e away f o outwardly onto said extension when the supaid fi t named h t ng unit, for actuating porting member moves to elevate said second id lid bl frame t dl t j t b mentioned heatmgumt. I yond one edge of said'first heating unit and 4- A brefld S110? toaster compl'lsmg inwardly when the movable frame is moved base, heatmg umt p ol'ted p l toward said first named heating unit.

base, a pp g mem mountfid for 17 A bread slice toaster comprisin a sliding movement transversely of the plane h ti l t on hi h th li i l i a v of said aforementioned heating unit, a. seccompanion h tin l nt ad t d to lo 1 ng P Pivotally PP PP upon the slice to toast the same and open 531d suppolllmg member and normally (115' when the toasting is completed, a frame Posed in a Plane P with the P of about the slice and slidable on the first Said first mentioned heating K and 11! named heating element, an actuating arm for opposed relatlonshlp thereto, said b operating said companion heating element hefltlng g .d g f to PPP and havm rack teeth at one edge, a guide a $1100, operatmg means for Sald p g through w ich'said arm works, a gear jourmember to move said second ment oned heatlled t id id d engaging th k g unit y m the first f f teeth of said arm, a rack toothed flange at ing unit and in allned parallelism therewlth, n id f id f d a Second g ar means operable in the above mentlon fixed on the same center as said first gear movemen of sald supportlng member q and engaging the rack toothed flange of said swinging said second mentioned heating unlt frame wh reby th latt r will b automatiout of alinement with said first men i n cally actuated to move the slice inwardly heating unit to thereby permit removal f when the said companion heating element the slice from the heating unit upon which closes and outwardly when it opens.

it is disposed, a frame slidable u on said 18. A bread slice toaster "comprisin a base-carried heating unit and within which heating element on 'which the slice is lai a the slice is located, and gearing associated companion heating element adapted to close with said slidable frame and supporting uplon the slice to toast the same and open member for actuating said supporting frame w en the toasting is completed, a frame to slide outwardly when the supporting memabout the slice and slidable on the first ber moves to elevatesaid second mentioned namedheatmg element, an actuating arm for heating unit; -operatmg said companion heating element and having rack teeth at one edge, a. rack formed upon-said frame and gearmg opera- -iively,connecting the racks of said arm and heating element for supporting a slice,' a

slice confining frame slidableupon said heating unit to project beyond one ed e thereof,.

alever having rack teeth, a rack ormed on 7 said frame, and gearing for operativel vcon- .n'ecting said racks whereby to control t e o- .sition of said frame through the operation of said lever. t

20. In a bread slice toaster comprising a companion heating element movable 'to a position above the slice whereby to toast both sides therof a slice confining frame slidable upon said first heating element, an operating lever for controlling the movement of said companion heating element, and an opera.-

tive connection between said operating lever actuating the latter inwardly as the companion heating element moves to toasting position and outwardly as the companion moves to inoperative position. I

tures.

' JOHN J; NOETH.

FREDERICK E. HUMMEL.

2e 'and said slidable slice confining frame for 30 lntest mony whereof we aflix our signa- 

